Electric clock mechanism



R. MAGRO ELECTRIC CLOCK MECHANISM Oct. 27, 1936.

Filed Oct. 28, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Oct. 27, 1936. R MAGRO 2,058,609

ELECTRIC CLOCK MECHANI SM Filed 001:. 28, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I29 INVENTOR no I4 I? Magro (Ab/LL,

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 27, 1936 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CLOCK MECHANISM Ralph Magro, Jersey City, N. J., asslgnor, by mesne assignments, to Joseph Lipack and George Yamin, Bayonne, N. J.

Application October as, 1933, Serial No. 695,699

3 Claims.

My presentin'vention relates to time mechanism and more particularly to an improved electrically driven time indicating instrument.

My invention also relates to improved time striking mechanism.

Pursuant to my present invention, I provide a mechanism which produces the desired time indication -by utilization of minute and hour hands, and also a second hand if desired, all of which are driv en at appropriate speeds by a synchronous motor and with a step by step movement having visually substantially the characteristic of continuous movement of the minute hand.-

Further I have devised a striking mechanism for such and other time keeping instruments and which is operated at appropriate times by the timing train.

In carrying out my invention I preferably associate with a shaft driven at a constant speed as by a synchronous electric or other suitable motor, a ratchet and pawl mechanism which is associa'ed with a shaft carrying, if desired, a second hand, and which ratchet and pawl mechanism operates once for each second interval of time to produce an intermittent rotarymotion of the shaft corresponding to or carrying the seconds hand and which therefore will impart a step by step rotary movement to the seconds hand about its axis of rotation. Further, I associate with the seconds shaft, as above described, a cam which in turn controls a pawl that intermittently rotates a shaft carrying a minute hand.

While I may," carry such construction to the point where the hour hand is also moved stepby-step, I prefer to associate with the shaft carrying the minute hand a pinion which meshes with and drivesa shaft carrying the hour hand and accordingly the hour hand is driven at a predetermined constant speed with relation to the speed of, travel of the minute and seconds hands.

With the mechanism, as for example the shaft carrying the hour hand, I associate a cam or equivalent mechanism for determining the duration of operation of a striking mechanism and this striking mechanism is provided with means for periodically striking a bell, conveniently once per second, the proper number in accordance with the hour or other time indication.

An object of my invention therefore is an improved time keeping mechanism.

An object of myinvention is a preferred time keeping mechanism operated by a synchronous motor.

A further object of my invention is an improved time keeping mechanism wherein the time indieating elements are intermittently driven step by step at a predetermined rate of speed by a synchronous motor. 7

An object of my invention is a striking mechanism for synchronous motor driven time keeping mechanisms.

An object of my invention is an improved striking mechanism controlled by a synchronous or other suitable motor driventime keeping mechanism.

Other objects and features of the construction comprised in my device will appear as the description of the invention progresses.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional elevation through a time keeping mechanism embodying my invention; I

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 2-2 of Fig.

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and showing the striking operation mechanism in one position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3and showing the striking operation mechanism in another position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view on the line 55 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram of the electrical connections of my improved device.

Referring to the drawings, l designates a casposts l1. Between the nuts l6 and the brackets I is positioned a bearing plate l8. The space between the front face of the plate l8 and the rear face of the front closure member H provides a housing for the purpose to be hereinafter described.

Secured to the posts II, as at the end thereof remote from the brackets I5, is a bearing plate I9, this plate being spaced apart from and lying parallel to the bearing plate l8, and secured in position on the post I! by the nuts 20.

The front closure member II is provided with a centrally arranged orifice 2| and with a countersunk portion 22 on its outer face, for a regulation or other dial plate 23, which may be held in position by a bezel ring 24 carrying a sight or crystal 25. Centrally arranged in the bearing plate 18 is a bearing 25a and in which is rotatably mounted a sleeve 26. This sleeve at its outer end passes through a centrally arranged perforation in the dial plate 23, which perforation also acts as a bearing, and secured to the outer end of the sleeve 26 is a bushing 21 carrying the hour hand 28.

Secured to the rear end of the bushing 26, as by stacking or in any other desired manner, is a gear 29 which meshes with and is driven by a pinion 38, rotatably mounted on a stud shaft 3|, suitably secured to the rear face of the hearing plate 18, as by riveting. Secured to the rear face of the pinion 38 is a gear 32, the gear 32 and pinion 38 being held in position on the stud shaft 31 by the screw 33. The gear 32 meshes with and is driven by a pinion 34, suitably secured to the rear end of a sleeve 35, which sleeve is slidably and rotatably mounted in the bushing 26. Such sleeve 35 at its outer end has secured thereto the minute hand 36.

Secured to the pinion 34, by staking or in any other desired manner, is a ratchet 31 which is adapted to be engaged by a driving and locking pawl mechanism comprising an arm 38 pivptally mounted on one of the posts 11, and the free end of this arm extends radially outward from the axis of the particular post I1 employed. The free end of the arm 38 extends to a point slightly beyond the axis of the tubular member or sleeve 35. Secured to the arm 38, by screw 39, is a spring driving pawl 48 which engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 31. Secured to the arm 38 by screw 41 is a spring holding pawl 42 which likewise engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 31. Extending through the sleeve 35 and rotatably mounted therein is a shaft 43,- and the rear end of this shaft is reduced in diameter, as indicated at 44, and cooperates with a bearing in the rear bearing plate 19.

The outer, or front end, of the shaft 43 may have attached thereto a seconds hand 45.

The shaft 43 has secured thereto, as by pin 46, a sleeve 41 to which is attached a cam 48, this cam engaging with the extension of the arm 33. Secured to the sleeve "is a ratchet wheel 49, which is similar to the ratchet wheel 31 above described, and such ratchet wheel 49 is shown in front elevation in Fig. 2. With the ratchet wheel 49 coacts a spring driving pawl 58 and a spring holding pawl 51. The pawls 58 and l' are car- H ried by an arm 52, similar to the arm 38, and

which is rotatably mounted on one of the posts l1 and has an extension 51 which projects slightly beyond the axis of the shaft 43. The spring driving pawl 50 is attached to the arm 52" by screw 53, while the spring holding pawl 5| is attached to the arm 52 by the screw 54.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft 43 is a sleeve 55, and to such sleeve is secured a cam 56. This cam 56 is adapted to engage with the extension 51 of the arm 52 and imparts an oscillatory motion thereto, thus imparting an oscillatory motion to the spring driving pawl 58, and thus producing an intermittent or step-by-step rotation of the sleeve 49.

Secured to the sleeve 55 is a gear 58 which meshes with and is driven by a pinion 59 secured to a shaft 60, such shaft 68 being rotatably mounted in a bearing 6|, secured to the rear bearing plate I 9 and in a bearing 62 secured to a bracket 63,":ittached to the rear face of the bearing plate l9; The-shaft 68 extends rearwardly of the device'o': to the left as shown in Fig. 1,

and has attached to its rear end a knob 64 located outside of the cover plate l2, and by means of which the shaft 68 may be manually rotated. To the shaft 68, between the bearings BI and 62, is secured a rotor 65 cooperating with pole pieces 66 of a synchronous motor, such pole pieces being attached to the upper posts 11 and adjacent the rear bearing plate 19. The two pole pieces 66 at their upper ends are joined by a bar 61 and ,mounted on such bar is an energizing coil 68,

The effective peripheral notches of the pole pieces and of the rotor may be varied to control the rate of rotation of the rotor.

Suitably mounted, as on the front face of front bearing plate I8 in any convenient position, i. e., at the lower right hand corner thereof as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, is, a terminal block 69 of any desired insulating material. This terminal block 69 is provided with terminals 18, 1!, 12 and 13, although the number of such terminals is immaterial and as many terminals may be provided as is necessary to insure proper connection and wiring for as many circuits as may be desirable. Conductor 14 of a main feed supply is shown connected to the terminal and a conductor from the main feed supply is shown connected to the terminal 13. From the terminal 18 leads a conductor 16 which is attached to one end of the coil 68 while leading from the terminal 13 is a conductor 11 attached to the other end of the coil 68. The coil 68 is therefore always supplied with current from the conductors 16 and 15 connected to the main feed supplyand power is thus assured to cause synchronous rotation of the rotor 65 with respect to the character of the current. The rotor 65 is attached to the shaft 60, adjacent to the bearing 62, and also mounted on the shaft 68 in close association with the rotor 65 is a disk 18, suchdisk being freely rotatable on the shaft 68. On the shaft 68 and adjacent to bearing 6| is provided a fixed collar 19 and be tween the fixed collar 19 and the rotatably mounted plate 18 is a spring 88 which normally holds the plate 18 in frictional engagement with the rotor 65 but which allows relative movement therewith. Although the synchronous motor' composed of the elements 65, 66, 61 and 68 may be self-starting, I find it desirable to provide the knob 64 for manually rotating the shaft 68, and therewith the rotor 65, to start the rotor 65 in motion preparatory to having the rotary movement continue under the actuation and control of the current passing through the coil 68.

As thus far described, it is obvious that with my invention, while power is transmitted to the seconds, minute and hour hands 45, 36 and 28 respectiveiy, from the synchronous motor, such power operates the seconds and minute drives with an intermittent step-by-step movement rather than a continuous movement. For example, the rotor 65 imparts a continuous rotary movement to the pinion 59 and at an assumed speed of 120 revolutions a minute. The rotary movement of the pinion 59 is imparted to the gear 58 on the collar which thus also is rotated continuously but at a speed equal to revolutions a minute, the ratio between the pinion 59 and the gear 58 being designed for such speed reduction. Therefore, the cam 56 is also rotated continuously and at a rate of speed equal to 60 revolutions a minute. The cam 56 therefore engages with the arm 51 and imparts an oscillatory motion thereto once per second and therefore the spring driving pawl 58 rotates the ratchet 49 in the direction of the applied arrows, see Fig. 2,

the distance of onetooth every second and as there are 60 teeth in the ratchet wheel 49 such ratchet wheel 49 makes one complete revolution every minute, and therefore the second hand 45 makes one complete revolution every minute. As the ratchet wheel 49 is carried by the sleeve 41, which in turn is pinned to the shaft 43, and as the sleeve 41 also carries a cam 48, the cam 48 makes one complete revolution every minute and,

therefore the cam 48, engaging with the arm 38, such arm 38 imparts thereto an oscillatory movement once every minute, and by means of its driving spring pawl 40 imparts a step-by-step rotary movement to the ratchet wheel 31, one stroke per minute. The ratchet wheel 31, being provided with 60 teeth, such ratchet wheel makes a complete revolution every hour,'or 60 minutes, thereby imparting a complete revolution once per hour to the minute hand 38. The hour hand 28 being geared directly to the pinion 34 on which the ratchet wheel 31 is mounted imparts thereto a continuous rotary movement and makes one complete revolution every twelve hours.

In addition to the time keeping mechanism as above described I have associated therewith a time striking mechanism such as is illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6. Referring to such figures and also to Fig. 1, there is shown attached to the front face of the front bearing plate I8 and in the rear of the closure member II a stud shaft 8| on wihch is pivotally mounted an arm 82, provided at its free end with a ratchet quadrant 83. Also on the arm 82, intermediate its ends, and extending laterally therefrom is a pin 84, which pin to the bearing plate, 18, by screw 88, is a spring holding pawl 81 which engages with the teeth of the ratchet quadrant 83 and holds the same in its uppermost position except under certain conditions to be hereinafter specified. The screw 88 may also secure in position a spring member 88, which spring member extends upwardly and to the right, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, and at its outer free end engages with a hollow switch member 89. Such switch member 89 is held in a clip 90 that is pivotally attached to the bearing plate I8 by screw 9|. Located and sealed within the closed member 89 are contacts, one of which, say, the contact 92, is connected by conductor 93 to the terminal 10 and the other, i. e., contact 94, is connected by conductor to the terminal H. The contacts 92 and 94 are out of engagement with each other and are electrically connected by a liquid conducting material 96 such as mercury, located within the member 89. Referring to Fig. 3, it isnoted that the liquid conducting material 98 is at the end of the member 89 remote from the contacts 92 and 94 and therefore the circuit between the contacts 93 and 95 is broken at the contacts 92 and 94 for such position. Referring to Fig. 4 it will be noted that the liquid conducting material 96, because of the position of the member 89 on the pivot screw 91, is at the end of the member 89 containing the contacts 92 and 94 and theiiquid conducting material electrically connects the contacts 92 and 94 in such position, thus completing the circuit between the conductors 93 and 95.

As an exemplification of one means for rotating the arm 82 about the stud shaft 8|, I provide a shaft 91, rotatably mounted in bearings in the bearing plates I8 and I9, and'on such shaft secure in any convenient manner an arm 98. To the outer free end of the arm 98, I secure, as by screw 99, a spring driving pawl I00 which normally engages with the teeth in the ratchet quadrant 83. Also, on the shaft 91, I secure an arm IIlI which extends forwardly, i. e., to the right as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and into a position to be engaged by the cam 56 that is secured to the sleeve 55.

Assuming that Fig. 4 shows in normal position the arm 82 which carries the ratchet quadrant 83 and that the rotor 85 is rotated, under such conditions for each revolution of the cam 58 there is an oscillatory movement imparted to the arm I 0|. This in turn imparts a step-by-step movement to the ratchet quadrant 83, thus moving the same step-by-step from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 3. Each forward step of the ratchet quadrant 83 caused by the movement of the spring driving pawl I00, is maintained by the sprin'g'holding pawl 81 so that in the uppermost position of the ratchet quadrant 83 as shown in Fig. 3, such arm 82 and ratchet quadrant 83 is maintained as shown'regardiess of the subsequent oscillatory movement imparted to the spring driving pawl I80. It will be noted that below the ratchet teeth on the ratchet quadrant 83 there is formed a flat surface I02 on which the spring driving pawl I00 slides in subsequent movement of the same and this condition is maintained until mechanism to be hereinafter described operates to release the ratchet quadrant 83.

In hearings in the bearing plates I8 and I9. and below the shaft 91 is rotatably mounted a shaft I03, and secured to-such shaft and extending radially outward therefrom is a bar or pin I04. This bar or pin I04lies in the path of movement of a pin I05 secured to and extending outward from one face of the ratchet wheel 31,

which ratchet wheel makes one complete revolution every hour. Secured to one end of the shaft I03 is a modified bell crank lever, one arm I06 of which is curved as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and is adapted to engage with the spring member 88 to thus cause a rotary movement of the member 89 about the pivot screw 91 to move the member 89 1 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4. Also this arm I06 engages with an arm I01 formed integral with and extending laterally outward from the spring driving pawl I00, so that simultaneously with the rotary movement imparted to the member 89, the driving pawl is moved out of engagement with the ratchet'quadrant 83. Also, as the spring holding pawl 81 is formed integral with the spring member 88, such holding pawl 81 is released at this time from the ratchet quadrant 83, which there upon is permitted to fall from the position shown in Fig. 3 into the position shown in Fig. 4 or into any intermediate position depending upon the particular step of the stepped cam 85 that is in position under the pin 84 on the arm 82. The other arm I08 of the said modified bell crank lever is provided with clips I09 in which is mounted a hollow switch member III]. This hollow switch member H0 is quite similar to the hollow switch member 89, and has sealed therein at one end a pair of contacts one of which, as the contact III, is connected by conductor II2 to the terminal 12 on the terminal block 69 and the other contact, 1. e., I I0, is connected by conductor I I0 to the terminal 13. Within the hollow switch member 09 is placed a suillcient quantity of liquid conducting material II! which is normally in position, to engage with the contacts III and II! as shown in Fig. 3, but which on the rotation of the modified bell crank lever is moved out of engagement therewith as shown in Fig. 4. Secured to the bearing plate I0 is a pin H6 which limits the rotary movement (in one direction) of the modified bell crank lever.

Suitably mounted on the base I0 as by screws I I1, is a bracket I I0 and on this bracket is mounted a solenoid IIB. Secured to the upper end of the solenoid II! is a bell I20 and slidably mounted in the solenoid is a plunger armature ,I2I, carrying at the upper end a slidably mounted rod I22. Secured to the lower end of the plunger armature I2I, as by screws I23, is an operating arm I20 which extends radially outward, and then upward, and at its upper free end has pivotally attached thereto a clapper operating rod I25. This rod passes through an eye I26, see Fig. 1, formed in the upper end of the rod I22 and is provided with a bail I21 which engages with the bell I20. One end of the solenoid II! is connected by conductor I28 to the terminal II while the other end of such solenoid is connected by conductor I29 to the terminal 12, see Fig. 6. Therefore, upon the hollow switch member 80 being in its position shown in Fig. 4 and hollow switch member IIO in the position shown in Fig. 3, the circuit is completed, see Fig. 6, from the conductor 10, terminal 10, conductor 03, contacts 92 and 00, conductor 95, terminal II, conductor I20, solenoid H0, conductor I20, terminal 12, conductor II2, contacts III, II2, conductor IIl, terminal 10 and conductor 15 and the solenoid IIO is energized to attract its plunger armature I2I, and therewith the ball I21 strikes the bell I20.

Assuming the time mechanism above described to be in operation so as to bring the stepped cam 05 gradually into its position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and that such position indicates twelve o'clock, the pin I00 engages with the arm I00 to rotate the shaft I03 in a counter-clockwise direction and brings the bell crank arm I06 into engagement with the spring member 08 and the arm I01 on the driving pawl I00, thus moving the hollow switch member 09 from its position shown in Fig. 3 into its position shown in Fig. 4, thereby effecting the liquid conducting material 00 to bridge the gap between the conductors 92 and 00 and release the holding pawl 01 and driving pawl I00 from the teeth on the ratchet quadrant 00. The ratchet quadrant 03 then falls from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4.

As, however, it is not desirable to have the bell I20 strike before a complete sequence of bell striking operations may take place, and it is not desired to have the closing of the circuit between the contacts 02 and 00 cause an energization of the solenoid II! at this time, such striking does not take place due to the fact that the moving of the hollow switch member 00 into its position shown in Fig. 4 can only take place because of the further rotary movement of the shaft I02. The rotary movement of the shaft I03, in addition to moving the hollow switch member 00 to its position shown in Fig. 4, also moves the member III as tocause the flow of its liquid conducting material II! from the contacts I II and I I3 to the other end of the member IIO, I. e., into its circuit opening position shown in Fig. 4. Therefore, no striking of the bell I20 as yet takes place.

The release of the driving pawl I 00 and the holding pawl 0'! permits the ratchet segment 00 to fall from its position shown in Fig. 3 to its position shown in Fig. 4, the amount of downward movement of such quadrant, as above explained, being limited by the amount of downward movement permitted by particular step of the stepped quadrant 05 located immediately beneath the pin on the arm 02.

As above assumed, that in the position of the mechanism shown in the drawings is of twelve o'clock, immediately upon the pin I05 moving off the end of the rod I00, shown in Fig. 4, the bell crank lever arm I00 which carries the hollow switch member H0, is permitted to return to its original position, i. e., as shown in Fig. 3, the liquid conducting material I It moves into engagement with and completes the circuit between contacts III and H3;

As, however, the return of the'bell crank lever to its normal position, i. e., as shown in Fig. 3, permits the holding pawl 01 and the spring member 08 to move into their normal positions, the hollow switch member 00 moves into its position shown in Fig. 3, thus shifting the liquid conducting material to break the electrical circuit between the contacts 9'. and 04. As the timing mechanism operates, the cam 00 rotates the arm IOI about its axis 01, thus operating the spring driving pawl I00 which moves the ratchet quadrant 0! upward the distance of one step. In such movement the holding pawl 01 rides over the top of the tooth on the ratchet quadrant 02 with which it is in engagement, thus lifting the member. 00 to its uppermost position or into substantially the position shown in Fig. 4, again rotating the hollow switch member 09 so as to shift its liquid conducting material 90 into position to bridge the circuit between the contacts 02 and 00, and complete the energizing circuit of the solenoid II! with the power conductors I0 and 15, through the hollow switch members 00 and IIO in series.

At the end of the stroke of the spring driving pawl I00 the holding pawl 01 drops in behind the tooth over which it has Just ridden, holding the ratchet quadrant 00 in its upward position, and permitting the member 00 to move into the position shown in Fig. 3, thus permitting the hollow switch member 09 to rotate and move the liquid conducting material 90 from out of engagement with the contacts 92 and 00, thus open-circuiting at such contacts the energizing circuit of the solenoid IIS and permitting the ball I21 to drop into engagement with the bell I20 and strike one blow.

The next cycle of operation as above described takes place one second later and therefore the bell I20 is operated one blow each second until the desired number of strikes, in the assumed instance, a series of twelve strikes, after which, as the driving pawl I00 slides idly on the surface I02 there is no longer imparted to the curved spring member 00 any upward and downward movement and therefore the hollow switch mem-- ber 00 remains in its open-circuit position shown in Fig. 3. The stepped cam 00 therefore is free to rotate as the pin 00 on the arm 02 is out of its path of travel and the above cycle of operations is repeated one hour later. when in the assumed instance, the step representing one o'clock is brought into vertical alignment with respect to the movement of the pin 84.

It will thus be seen that I have devised not only a time keeping motor driven mechanism of novel and advantageous design but have also associated therewith a time striking mechanism which utilizes the same source of energy as the actuating medium for the time mechanism and which exerts no disturbing effect upon the time accuracy qualities of the time keeping mechanism.

Whereas I have described my invention by ref erence to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A striking mechanism for time keeping vices having in combination, rotatably mounted stepped cam, a pivoted arm provided with means for engaging with the steps of the cam, ratchet quadrant carried by said arm, means for releasing said ratchet quadrant from its normal position to a position. determined by the engagement of the means associated therewith with the cam, a second means for moving said ratchet quadrant back to its normal position, a time striking device, an energizing circuit therefor including a pair of break points, one of said break points being controlled by the first said means, and means controlled by the ratchet quadrant during its return movement and controlling the other break point in the energizing circuit to operate the time striking device.

2. A striking mechanism for time keeping devices having in combination, a steppedcam, a pivoted arm provided with means for engaging with the steps of the cam, a ratchet quadrant carried by said arm, means for releasing said ratchet from its normal position to a position determined by the engagement of the means associated therewith with the cam, a second means intermittently moving said ratchet quadrant back to its normal position, a time striking device, an energizing circuit therefor including a pair of break points, one of said break points being normally held inclosed position by the first said means, and means controlled by the ratchet quadrant during its return movement and intermittently controlling the other break point in the energizing circuit to operate the time striking device.

3. A striking mechanism for time keeping devices having in combination, a stepped cam, a pivoted arm provided with a pin for engaging with the steps of the cam, a ratchet quadrant carried by said arm, means for releasing said ratchet quadrant from its normalv position to a position determined by the engagement of the said with the stepped earn, a second means intermittently moving said ratchet quadrant back to its normal position, a time striking device, an energizing circuit therefor including a pair of break points, one of said break points being normally held in closed position by the first said means, and means controlled by the ratchet quadrant during its return movement and intermittently operating the other break point in the energizing circuit to operate the time striking device, the means for releasing the ratchet quadrant from its normal position maintaining the break point controlled thereby in the energizing circuit open during its releasing operation and until its return to initial position.

RALPH MAGRO. 

